Atheists and Mormons Host Joint Panel to Dispel Myths and Stereotypes About Their Beliefs

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Mormons will share the stage with atheists Wednesday as part of a joint panel held in Salt Lake City, Utah, to discuss and dispel the myths and stereotypes that are believed about the two groups.

In a statement released last week, American Atheists President David Silverman explained that the panel will "challenge how atheists and religious people think of each other."

He continued: "It's true that many atheist Utahans are ex-Mormons, but many atheists around the country have very little direct experience with Mormons. And many Mormons have very little real-world experience with or knowledge of atheists. We want to fix that because a better understanding of where we're all coming from is needed to share political and social space."

Titled "Atheists and Mormons Panel Discussion: Exposing Myths, Dispelling Stereotypes (Public Perception and Reality)," the panel will be moderated by Paul Reeve of the University of Utah, and will feature Silverman, ex-Mormon author Joanne Hanks, and Brigham Young University professors J.B. Haws and Richard Holzapfel.

The Mormon-atheist panel comes not long after the conclusion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' general conference, and one day before the atheists are to hold their annual national convention in the same city.

Speakers confirmed for the atheists' national convention include: the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of American United for the Separation of Church and State; PZ Myers, biologist and blogger; Marsha Botzer, founder of the Ingersoll Gender Center and LGBT activist; and Faisal Saeed al Mutar, founder of the Global Secular Humanist Movement.

The keynote speaker will be Chris Kluwe, a former punter for the Minnesota Vikings who also believes that marriage should be redefined to include same-sex couples.